“Ryuichi!” the three adults called in unison to get his attention.

“Little help!” Koichi barely caught the first dog right before its jaws clamped down on his arm. He fought back, but it wasn’t easy. The dog kept trying to tear at his throat.

Keiko wasn’t having much luck either. Her dog appeared to be trying to climb her like a fence. What did they feed these things? Souls of oni? Fertilizer?

Everywhere she turned, there seemed to be a new threat.

* * *

Still crouched on the ground with Takara beside him, Ryuichi heard his friends struggling.

Yet the shadow part of him didn’t care.

They deserve it. Let them suffer. What have they really done for me?

Horrible thoughts went through his head. Selfish thoughts.

Dishonorable thoughts.

It would be so easy to forget them. To focus on the pain of his past. To let his hatred overshadow the good and find his father so that he could unleash him and make everyone pay.

He couldn’t allow that. For better or worse, they were his family, and family stood united. Always.

Control your hatred. If you have hate toward another, then they control you.

Honor in all things.

Never regret what is done.

He couldn’t change the past. Only the future.

Only his reaction in the present.

Ryuichi met Keiko’s gaze. She’d always been there, keeping watch over him.

And Takara had never failed to stand up for him when no one else had.

I am samurai.

No. He wasn’t just a servant to his lord.

He was the Kage-Mori. The shadows were his to control. And he was through being a pawn.

Either you take action or action is taken upon you . . .

Sucking his breath in, he formed a shadow whip and lashed out at the hideous beasts attacking his friends. It cracked in the air, loud and sharp.

The creatures recoiled at the sound, shrinking away.

His friends turned to watch. Their jaws dropped in unison as they realized he was the only one with the ability to save them and send the beasts on their way.

Unsure and afraid of what he was doing, Ryuichi stepped forward and tried again. This time the whiplash was even stronger. Louder. As he gained confidence, he gained power. They needed his protection, and he would be there for them.

Whatever it cost him. No matter how scary.

“Leave my friends alone!”

Masaru stepped toward him as if he intended to bond their powers.

Ryuichi held up a hand to stop him. “Not right now.” He had enough bad thoughts in his head. The last thing he needed was Masaru adding more. It was hard enough to fight off his personal demons.

Masaru was a lot more persuasive and intelligent. He couldn’t risk having the kitsune in his head too. There was no telling where that could lead.